Supreme Court could take up Prop. 8

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to discuss today whether it wants to hear a legal challenge to Proposition 8, the 2008 California ballot measure that declared marriage between a man and a woman and stripped gays and lesbians of the right to marry here.

If the court denies a review, a ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturning Prop. 8 would stand, making gay marriage legal in California, although there is some debate about how widely that ruling would apply and when it would go into effect.

Some believe that if the court announces its decision later today, gay marriage could be legal in California by the end of the day.

If the court accepts the case, oral arguments are expected for March or April, with a ruling settling the matter coming in June.

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